Let The Fun Begin!

Last time you saw the shed/shoppe this is what it looked like. I'm beyond thrilled to tell you that the shed is now empty! Well except for the items that remained to either hold merchandise or to actually be merchandise. Scroll down to see how it looks now...

I can't believe that there was an old iron bed hiding behind all of that stuff. Surely I can find a way to use it after it's painted...

I can't wait to get the paint out and get started!

So excited to have the little cabinet...

This metal bar isn't staying but I'm gonna have to have some help to get it down...

At least now I can begin to envision what the little shed can become!

This is the area of the yard that surrounds the shed. Lots of clearing, cleaning and trimming is going to have to be out here. Wouldn't a cute table covered by some sort of awesome umbrella look nice here?

More clearing and trimming, yay! I spent most of the day in the shed yesterday and I can tell you that it just about got the best of me. I was so tired last night that I didn't really feel like eating, haven't known that emotion much in my life, 'cause I like me some food! 

So now it's time to paint and decorate and that's my 'thing'. I can't wait to get started on it next week!

So what did I do with all of the stuff in the shed? Well some it will go to the recycle center (or the dump as we call it) today...

The rest of it went to shed number two, what else was I gonna do with it? Just to let you know, see that old red mower? That would be how this girl mows the clover around here. Ain't life fun?

New Hair, New Me...

I got my hair colored and trimmed yesterday, which is really no big deal, except...

It's a good bit darker than it has been, which I'm liking and it's a good deal shorter than I've had it in awhile and I'm missing the lobbed off locks. Just wondering if getting your hair done in a new way ever makes you feel differently? I don't know why, but I've always felt different after getting a new do. Maybe this go around with new hair I'll be stronger and get more accomplished, a real ball of fire! Not likely since this week didn't take off on the right foot. I had gotten all of the yard work and much of the housework done last week in hopes of cleaning out the shed this week. Wasn't meant to be. Got a call on Sunday from my mother asking me if I could take her to the doctor on Monday. Sure, no big deal. No shed but no big deal, then yesterday I went to get my hair done, and arrived home in time to straighten up the house and make dinner, no shed. Today I have errands and church this evening. No shed. Maybe tomorrow I'll actually get to do something out there. I have plans for Friday and Saturday so there won't be any work in the shed on those days. Maybe my new hair will enable to actually accomplish the things I want and need to. That would be nice. For a change...

The Country Belle

A Good Day...

I've had two great days spent in the yard, mowing, trimming hedges and general sprucing up around the cottage. It wasn't too hot and I got a lot of things done that I hadn't been able to do because of knee problems. I'm so thankful that it seems to be on the mend and that I could get out and "smell the roses" so to speak. 

Okay now on to why I have a pic of food on this post. I wish I had been a little more gentle when I was helping my plate, so that you could tell what that blob underneath the sour cream is. It's actually enchiladas made from leftover barbecue turkey that I made in the slow cooker a couple of weeks ago. I like things that I can make in the slow cooker while I'm sewing or making things for my shoppe. I also appreciate having leftovers of something that I can turn into a completely different dish for another dinner. So how do you turn barbecue turkey into enchiladas? This was a trial dish, one where I saw something in the grocery store that prompted me to picture the turkey leftovers in the freezer and it just came together exactly like I hoped it would. Easy doesn't begin to describe this but it's a good start...

I thawed the turkey, added jarred salsa to it and tadum! It tasted just like I wanted it to. So then I spooned it into corn tortillas, rolled them up and placed them into a casserole dish coated with non-stick spray. Now here's the item that got this dish going in the first place. Get ready now...

A can of queso blanco found in the Mexican section of the grocery store. I just emptied the can and spread the cheese on top, popped it into the oven and let it do it's magic. Don't snurl your nose! This was good, even JD approved and actually asked for more! No, they aren't real enchiladas or the ones I usually make, but it was soooo easy and just as delicious!

I served refried beans made from leftover pintos on the side. Just added about a tablespoon of olive oil to a cast iron skillet, added about a cup and a half of beans and something I never had thought to add before. The juice from jarred jalapenos, about 5 tablespoons. JD doesn't do spicy, so I only added the jalapenos onto my serving. The juice gave the beans exactly the amount of oomph I wanted. Please stop snurling. You have to try this!

See how relaxed JD is after that great dinner?

And Georgianna is relaxed too. On the bench on the sun porch, where I placed lots of pillows so that she would stay off of it. That was effective...

Yep, it was a good day!

Just cause!

Looking for something good to become involved in? Follow this link and take a look at what Danielle is doing. I hope you'll give the Facebook page a like, and follow this link to read all about Just Cause and September's project Sole Hope. There's also a button there for you to grab for your blog. I'm sure there's a little something all of us can do and all of us working together can make a difference. I'm going to put the button on my blog now and I hope you'll all do the same!

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Awesome or I'm in awe anyway...

Check!

Remember Saturday's list I had to check off? You can see it here if you haven't read it already. Anywho, I got it checked off and documented the day in photos. No, I'm not that bored. Really...

There's only one word that evokes this expression from Georgianna. Treat!

Cleaned the coop and fed the chickens Check. (the hens ran away from the camera)

Removed the skins, chopped and put the tomatoes in the freezer. Check.

Went back to the coop later and got these eggs. Beautiful!

One of ten times I washed dishes. Check.

Got the peppers dried. Check. It really does make the hens lay more eggs!

More dishes. Check.

Cut up a fresh pineapple. Hey, that was work! Check.

Watered the herbs and lettuces. Check.

Shelled and cooked the peas. I decided we would eat them fresh on Sunday. so good. They're Calico peas, a variety of Crowder peas, heirlooms. My favorite! Check!

And dinner at the end of the day! The best part of the day and made all of the work totally worth it. Pan seared steak with pineapple relish, cheese biscuits, and salad. 

Oh. My. Goodness. Check...

Yessir, I Like It!

See this old chest? I just got it from JD and I can't wait to put it in the shoppe! More cleaning is going to have to happen before I take it out there. Before that happens I have to get peas and tomatoes prepped and into the freezer. Before that happens I have to get peppers into the dehydrator so I can crush them up for the chickens. Did you know that dried cayenne makes them lay more eggs? Neither did I until a chicken farmer enlightened me. Glad to help you out with the information... Anywho, back to my "before that" list. Before the peppers get dried I have to clean the coop, feed and water the chickens and water the herbs. All in one day. But before any of that happens I have to shut the computer down and get out of this chair.

Sheesh. Before that I have to go over to Pinterest Land....

Y'all have a blessed weekend. I'll be here checking off this list.

And The Winner Is...

Congratulations to Nell at The Rambling Couch Potato! She's the winner of the fall hand towel give away. Nell, just shoot me an email with your address and I'll send the towel to you right away!

Virtual Vacation...

I didn't get a vacation this year, so I searched for photos of New England and these were some of my favorites. I've wanted to visit NE for years now and some day I hope to make it. Until then I'll have to settle for this...

Definitely what I would eat... and lobster rolls!

I adore fishing villages... can you tell?

Maybe stay in a B&B...

It was a nice photo tour but I don't feel one bit more relaxed!

Produce Stands And Summer!

If I pull from my drive way and head straight down Hwy. 11 going North, I pass three produce stands within only five miles. That doesn't count the folks selling out of the back of their trucks, just the official stands. You see, I live in peach country and it doesn't matter which direction I travel, I'll pass orchards scattered throughout. These stands rely on you and I to buy local for their survival. If we don't buy from them and just pick it up at the grocery store because it's more convenient then it hurts our local economy. Did you know that even though South Carolina is one of the leading peach growing states that we aren't allowed to ship our peaches into California? They can ship their peaches here, but they won't take ours. Nothing against California at all, I enjoy many produce items from there when ours aren't in season. Just sayin', stop by and see your local farmers at their stands and visit the large farmer's markets in your area. That's a great weekend trip for families to take too. Your kids get sort of a day in the country atmosphere and you can buy fresh, local goodies for them to eat!

I took these photos at McDowell's farm and produce stand on Hwy. 11 between New Prospect and Chesnee, S.C. Know what this field is? It's where next year's strawberries will grow! Less than two weeks ago, it was filled with the tastiest cantaloupes I've ever eaten. 

S.C. agriculture is a good thing and if you're lucky enough to live here, please take full advantage!

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Peaches!

Aren't these gorgeous? Nothing beats a South Carolina peach. Know what? I walked next door, literally, to Geary Jolley Produce and took some pics for my Cottage Cuisine blog. and just couldn't stand it. I had to tell you about them. These truly are the best peaches I've ever eaten. So are his strawberries, and his scuppernongs. Don't know what those are? If you're ever at the intersection of Hwy. 9 and 11 then you're at his produce stand, stop in and see them. Oh, scuppernongs are like grapes but with a thicker skin. I could eat them all day. Love that taste!

My New "Big Girl" Blogs!

This is my friend Danielle, JD's oldest daughter and I just want to say thank you out loud to her for my new blog designs. She listens and then makes it happen and before I knew it I had my dream "grown up" styled blogs! Thank you sweetie, I can honestly say that this would NEVER have happened without you!

Rain On A Tin Roof...

We were blessed with a tiny bit of a shower yesterday and wouldn't you know it, after all of the gloom we've had the sun came out while it was raining. Devil beating his wife! This picture was taken right outside my back door, I didn't even have to step off of the deck to snap it! I love hearing the rain on the old tin roofs around here. I have this one and the ones on the sheds out back. I'm looking forward to being in the shed when it finally becomes my shoppe and listening to it rain. Speaking of which, if I don't stop blogging there won't be a shoppe...
TGIF

Barbecue Turkey Slow Cooker Style!

Hey y'all, here's the link to get the recipe for the barbecued turkey recipe. This is so good and so easy and has so many possibilities! So, want me to say "so" again? 

Okay, so have a wonderful Thursday!

Oh Deere And Turkey BBQ

It was a peculiar Labor Day celebration. Or maybe I was in a peculiar mood that day. It started out like this...

I didn't feel like going to the grocery store, so early that morning I had to scheme devise a plan for dinner that evening. Wild turkey breast in the freezer, check. barbecue sauce, check, cabbage, check. I can pull this one off! Then it was afternoon and I started thinking about what I would wear. I don't own anything red, white and blue that isn't in dress form and believe you me, I was not donning a dress for JD and myself to eat dinner. Not tonight anyway. Then I saw the John Deere flip flop tee shirt I had made a while back. Well there you go! What's more American than John Deere, and it's all harvest this and harvest that right now here in the upstate of SC, so John Deere it was and I even have jewelry to match that I bought from Wired Essentials. So I merged the Labor Day celebration with a Harvest Day celebration, didn't spend any money, had a great meal and a laid back evening.  Okay, it was only a celebration in my own mind, but if it works, it works. And it did...

Oh, and I even had plates to match my shirt!

See, we're celebrating...

This was amazing and I'm in love with the slaw. I wish I hadn't made fork prints in the cantaloupe though...

I'll post the recipe later either here or over on Cottage Cuisine.

Get your Deere on!

Glamping Love...

I have "getting away from here" fever, just a craving for a change in scenery. Inside and outside. And I'm not talking about a hotel room either. I need a nice little glamped up camper that's done up uber cute, a source of water and a camp fire. Oh yeah, and food. I'm loving these campers that have had makeovers and are oh so feminine. I found the images on Pinterest when I entered "cute campers" into the search box. Take a look and see what you think.

This is where I've chosen to put the camper. Wonder where exactly this is? I found it on Google images when I typed in "mountains of Tennessee". Wonder if they'd mind us camping there?

Wonder how JD feels about glamping in a pink camper?